PRISON health, sexual health services, children’s outpatient services, community hospitals and a range of other non-acute areas of care in the county will soon transfer out of NHS Surrey control.

The primary care trust named Assura Medical Limited, part of the Virgin Group, as its preferred bidder for community health services in south west and north west Surrey during a meeting of its board last Friday.

“Although it is a significant milestone, there is still further work to be done as we enter the due diligence phase.

“I am confident that this period of additional scrutiny will ensure the recommendation is robust for the benefit of patients and staff.

“I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the professionalism of the Surrey Community Health staff over the recent months during this procurement.

“Their focus has been firmly centred on the quality of care they provide for their patients and today’s recommendation heralds further opportunities for them to reach even higher.”

Karen Randolph, Save Our Surrey Community Hospitals chairman, said the county desperately needed primary care to be provided in a coherent and integrated manner and asked whether Assura would step up to the challenge.

“This needs investment now – will the selected provider be in a position to fund the significant enhancement of primary care services to relieve pressure on acute hospitals?”She said.

“The NHS system in Surrey has been starved of investment in recent years – We are now seeing ad hoc cuts, further increasing the fragmentation of services.”

Alison Edgington, Surrey Community Health chief executive, said: “I am delighted that we now know who the preferred bidder is and are able to start the real challenge of working closely with them to continue to improve community services in Surrey and deliver healthcare that the Surrey community can be proud of.

“I would like to thank all Surrey Community Health staff who have shown great patience during this process and remained professional throughout, giving expert care to all their patients.

“I am extremely proud of all of them.”

Under plans drawn up by the Department of Health, trusts such as NHS Surrey are required to separate commissioning from its provision of community services.

NHS Surrey and the Isle of Wight were among the last primary care trusts in the country to make the arrangements necessary. The next step will see further scrutiny of the tender submitted by Assura Medical to ensure the transfer takes place on December 31.